§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will list the State entitlement, including tax allowances and benefits, for the deaf and the blind separately.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisBlind people and deaf people are entitled to the full range of financial benefits for which their personal circumstances qualify them; including benefits where blindness or deafness may play some part in their entitlement, such as the incapacity benefits, attendance allowance or mobility allowance. In addition, they are entitled to services and to benefits in kind, including help specific to their particular impairments such as special training for and aids to employment, special welfare services, and special medical treatment and equipment. Blind people are entitled to a special income tax allowance of £180 a year, a television licence at reduced cost, free postage on items specifically for blind people, parking concessions under the "orange badge" scheme, certain travel concessions, higher supplementary benefit scale rates—e.g., by £1.25 for a single856W person—and exemption from dog licence requirements in the case of a guide dog. Fuller information is given in the Department's leaflet HB 1 "Help for Handicapped People".